It was another outstanding day for Michael and Melanie Alford of the Foxhill herd, Blackborough, Devon, as their heifer calf Foxhill Princess Carina C204 won the Aberdeen-Angus Winter National Championship before going on to take the Overall Pedigree Interbreed Championship at Borderway Agri Expo 2026.

Following an exceptional summer in the show ring, the Alfords made a fantastic start to the autumn calf showing season at the Aberdeen-Angus Winter National, held at Borderway Agri Expo, Carlisle, on Friday 30 October. Dallas Allen of the Stouphill herd, Northumberland, judged the classes in front of a packed ringside.

Born on 2 March 2026, Foxhill Princess Carina C204 is by Wensleydale Black Voltage Y140 and out of Blelack Princess Carina X125, both of whom enjoyed considerable success in the show ring during the summer. Her sire won the Overall Interbreed Beef Supreme Championship at the Royal Highland Show, while her dam secured interbreed honours at both the Aberdeen-Angus Summer National and Great Yorkshire Show. Foxhill Princess Carina C204 won the March-born heifer calf class before going on to take the Heifer Calf Championship, Female Championship and Overall Aberdeen-Angus Championship, receiving the Goldovera S43 Memorial Trophy.

The Alfords also won the Champion Pair of Calves award, receiving the Wych Cross Trophy.

Reserve Overall Champion was Carruthers El Chapo C402, exhibited by D & K Graham. Born on 14 January 2026, the bull calf is by Saville Tommy Y002 and out of Carruthers Elspeth Z227. He won his class before taking the Bull Calf Championship, receiving the Ardgarth Trophy, and went on to win the Male Championship and Reserve Overall Championship.

Reserve Male Champion was Tonley Extra Value C358, exhibited by Neil A Wattie. By Idvies Pink Profit Z149 and out of Tonley Ester W757, he won the March-born bull calf class before taking the Reserve Bull Calf Championship.

Andrew Hodge’s Rulesmains Kim C194 took the Reserve Female Championship. The heifer, by Rawburn Braw Lad R041 and out of Rulesmains Kim S836, won her class before being awarded Reserve Heifer Calf Champion and Reserve Female Champion.

The Yearling Bull Championship went to Ettrick Racoon B384 from the Firm of G Gray. He is by Rawburn Loaded U670 and out of Ettrick Rachel Y322. The Ettrick herd also secured the Reserve Yearling Bull Championship with Ettrick Badass B387, a son of Linton Gilbertines President S021.

In the yearling heifer section, Yester Estate won the championship with Rawburn Karama B659, by Blelack Dean Martin W063 and out of HW Karama T532. Reserve was Warrenho Jody B186 from A E & C R Bishop, a daughter of Warrenho Event Y987.

Other class winners included Shrewbridge Jackpot C110, exhibited by Sophie Harding, winner of the April-born bull calf class, and Buckhurst Pam C410 from John Walsh, winner of the April-born heifer calf class.

Judge Dallas Allen of the Stouphill herd, Northumberland, commented: “It was an honour to judge the Winter National on Friday, and I would like to thank the Society and H&H for inviting me. I thought the standard of cattle was very good, particularly in the heifer classes. It was a very close decision between the bull calf and heifer calf for the Overall Championship, but the heifer had the edge on the day. She was oozing class and was very well put together.”